PROSTAGLANDIN SYNTHETASE INHIBITION WITH INDOMETHACIN RECTAL SUPPOSITORIES IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC URINARY CALCULUS OBSTRUCTION

The effect of indomethacin suppositories on both acute urinary colic and urinary calculus, resistant or refractory to conventional therapy with analgesics and spasmolytics was investigated. Fifty-five patients with acute urinary colic refractory to treatment with repeated injections of antispasmodics and analgesics had dramatic or complete pain relief after receiving indomethacin suppositories (100 mg) (P less than 0.01). Fifteen of the 55 patients passed urinary stones within 30 days of treatment with indomethacin. Three out of 30 other patients with renal or ureteric stones were treated with indomethacin suppositories (100 mg) twice daily. Twenty-one of the 30 patients passed their stones within 30 days of treatment. It is concluded that indomethacin suppositories can relieve acute urinary colic resistant to treatment with analgesic/antispasmodic drugs, and facilitate expulsion of urinary calculi. The mechanism of action of indomethacin is discussed in terms of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and its prostaglandin synthesis inhibition.